One more question

[jmarie]

Hypothetical.

Lets say that you have been experiencing pain. Kidney area and under left breastbone. You go to the Dr. and the Dr. orders a Cat-Scan. You get the report and the Dr's nurse, says everything looks fine, no cancer, no kidney stone(s).

However there is a spot on your liver. But you had a sonogram done right before Christmas and while they were checking your gall-bladder they went ahead and checked the liver and the sonogram showed nothing wrong with the liver, so the Dr. feels there is nothing wrong with the liver. But the Dr. is going to order a full blood panel on liver enzymes and kidney function.

Would you be worried? Would you say....Well since one test showed a little something and one showed nothing, we will go for the one that read nothing.

What would your plan of action be if something like this happened to you. I lied, it is not a hypothetical situation.
Joyce

[tbb113]

I would go by the philosophy of better safe than sorry and have additional testing done. Especially since you are experiencing pain.

Sorry that you are going through all of this and I'm sorry about your mother as well.

[lindrusso]

I agree. I would go for more testing. If for nothing else, for our own peace of mind - you deserve that. I sincerely hope and pray that all is well, but you need to be sure, especially if one of the tests was suspicious.

If it were me, and maybe my thinking is altered by what we've been through these past couple of years, I would want to know for sure.

Please keep us updated.

Alysha

[Jazzmatazz49]

I would go, and I'd probably worry because I have done so in the past in similar situations. But remember that drs. are trying to avoid lawsuits, and probably order way more tests than are absolutely necessary. Good thoughts!

[wallycat]

I, personally would be freaking out...but that is because I am a worrier and have NO common sense when it applies to me personally.
When I look at things objectively, as in the scenario you pose, I would say that the odds are everything is fine.
I have read about people being told countless worrisome things, biopsies performed, only to find out that it is how their body was born....birthmark type things can occur on the inside as well as the outside. It's rare but a real possibility.
Also, a spot doesn't have to mean cancer.
It could be anything from a shadow that looks suspicious but isn't anything to a cirrhotic spot...which still wouldn't be the worst.
Could I be this objective and sane if I were given the info you posted...sadly, no, but I would make sure to follow up on all tests that were suggested.

[Beth]

I would get it checked. As good as current imaging technology is, you can still get one that will look a bit different than the other. They are so many things that can influence them -- including the skill of the doctor reading them. Sounds like you may have had 2 different people reading two different kinds of images. I would try not to worry and remember that there are lots of reasons why they might get different readings.

But on the be safe side -- rule out a problem while it appears that if there is anything to be worried about it is in the beginning stages and you would have every reason to feel confident about dealing with it much more easily. Sorry things are piling up for you -- but that's really all the more reason to take care of it and not even let the worry linger on any longer than it has to.

[jmarie]

So, lets say it is a spot on the liver. Would a full panel liver enzyme blood test be the tell all - tell all test? Yikes, two months seems like such a long time to wait and I hate wishing my life away for March 22nd to get here....

I just got finished telling my husband and I couldn't believe that he didn't poo-poo my anxieties. He actually said he understood my concern...that it worries him, too.

I really appreicate your responses...It makes me feel better just to know I am not being a crybaby, here.

Joyce

[wallycat]

The gold standard if you are worried it is cancer is a biopsy....but the doc may have liver cancer furthest from his mind.
If there were an inflammation or something, that may be the reason he needs to wait the 2 months.
The liver is one of the most amazing organs in the human body...it can, provided there isn't a lot of damage, virtually regenerate itself. This is why the living donor program can work for liver donation....they can literally take as much as 1/2 of the donor's liver and it will regenerate itself as will the other half given to the other person.
If you are this upset, I would call the doctor and simply ask why he wants to wait and what the shadow may indicate preliminarly. I know they don't want to scare people needlessly but if you are this upset, they owe you something to tide you over till then.

[jmarie]

Thanks...I think I will call them back tomorrow. Hopefully they won't mind.
Joyce

[vbak]

And if they do mind. tell them it is your body and your emotional health that you are concerned about. Hang in there .

Vicky

[Peggy]

Originally posted by vbak
And if they do mind. tell them it is your body and your emotional health that you are concerned about. Hang in there .

Vicky

I totally agree! Do not be intimidated by members of the medical profession. As everyone already said, get things checked out thoroughly so you can put your mind at ease.

If a close friend asked you these questions, what would you advise him/her to do?? Then follow your own advise!

Hugs!

Peggy

[donleyk]

Got good advise here Joyce, just wanted to send hugs too!